Design your personal pollinator and wildlife oasis that balances your family’s desires, your property’s unique characteristics, and the needs of the pollinators and wildlife you want to attract.
Registration is currently closed.
Please join the wait list to be notified when we offer this program again.
🦋 Do you live in the eastern U.S. and want to start a new pollinator garden? Or incorporate more native plants into your landscape to attract pollinators and wildlife?
🦋 If so, are you unsure where to start? Or are you confused about how to sift through and apply the information you’ve found on the internet?
🦋 Would you like help figuring it all out?
We can help!
Design Your Pollinator and Wildlife Oasis: Garden-sized Plots is a 4-week, group coaching program that guides you through designing a customized pollinator and wildlife oasis. It is specifically created for homeowners in the eastern U.S. who are passionate about planting gardens that make a positive ecological impact.
Join the coaching program and discover how to make your yard an inspiration to your neighbors, embrace eco-friendly practices, and reduce maintenance, all while enjoying the beauty of native plants and the company of vibrant pollinators and wildlife.
I am so pleased that I joined the Backyard Ecology Design your Backyard Pollinator and Wildlife Oasis program with Shannon and Anthony Trimboli. They gave me some fabulous ideas to develop a native wildflower meadow that will be much cheaper and easier for me than my original plans. I also learned many things that I didn’t realize I needed to know – and isn’t that part of why you join things like this? There is a lot of information out there, but you don’t always know what you are missing.
Shannon and Anthony are well equipped with scientific knowledge and intellectual credibility, but they are also uniquely able to impart that knowledge in a down to earth way that will make it easy for people of all backgrounds to benefit from the program. They were very innovative in tailoring their suggestions to each individual’s situation and desires and they were very respectful of each participant’s perspective.
~ Allison M.
Why our approach works
We take an honest, science based, and individualized approach to habitat management for the everyday homeowner. Our simple, science informed style allows you to make decisions based on your needs and goals to achieve the backyard habitat you desire. We recognize there are no one-size-fits-all answers and the “right” answer is different for everyone.
That’s why we take the time to listen, ask questions, and understand your unique goals and situation – so we can help you discover the best way to achieve your goals. And because this approach takes time, we only offer this program once or twice a year and limit the program to 20 participants at a time.
What’s included?
Basic Plan
🦋 Small group setting.
🦋 7 live virtual group coaching sessions.
🦋 Private group coaching forum for support between sessions.
🦋 Personalized feedback from Shannon, Anthony, and other members of the group.
🦋 Opportunity to meet and become friends with others on similar ecological journeys.
🦋 A 30-minute 1:1 coaching call for personalized attention.
🦋 Digital copy of the Design Your Pollinator and Wildlife Oasis: Garden-sized Plots Workbook.
🦋 3 months of membership in the Backyard Ecology Community for ongoing support and opportunities to engage with fellow nature lovers.
Continued Growth Plan
🦋 Everything from the Basic Plan.
🦋 A second 30-minute 1:1 coaching call.
🦋 Digital copy of Shannon’s book Attract Pollinators and Wildlife to Your Yard: 15 Free and Easy Ways.
🦋 9 additional months (12 months total) in the Backyard Ecology Community for continued support and learning opportunities.
Payment plans are available.
Registration is currently closed.
Please join the wait list to be notified when we offer this program again.
Coaching dates and times
🦋 Time: 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. CT / 8:00 – 9:00 p.m. ET.
🦋 Dates: Anticipated for Summer 2024
I enjoyed participating in the Design Your Pollinator and Wildlife Oasis small group coaching program offered by Shannon and Anthony Trimboli. The program was very helpful to explain the basics of getting started, the importance of choosing the right plants for the site and soil conditions and providing guidance on the ongoing management of the established habitat.
It was especially fun to participate in the small breakout sessions with other students. This provided an opportunity to meet and engage with others on similar journeys.
Shannon and Anthony also offered a private Zoom session with the students that I found very worthwhile. I may be selling my home next year and they shared valuable information and insight into ways to educate potential buyers about my native plant gardens and their importance to the environment.
Shannon and Anthony are easy to talk to, readily accessible to assist with questions, and extremely knowledgeable individuals. I highly recommend anyone interested in establishing a pollinator and wildlife habitat to take this program or any others they may offer.
~ Donna S.
More than just a course
This isn’t just us teaching you content. We will be actively walking you through the heart-work, brain-work, and hands-work to design a custom garden that aligns with your unique goals and desires.
This process includes lots of discussion and interactions with us and other members of the coaching program. All of us will have the opportunity to learn from and help each other. Don’t worry if you’re just getting started. Trust us, there will still be plenty of opportunities for you to contribute. (Even just asking questions helps everyone learn.)
If you actively participate and do the work, you’ll walk away with a customized garden design, implementation plan, and maintenance plan that balances your family’s desires, your property’s unique characteristics, and the needs of the pollinators and wildlife you want to attract.
What to expect
🦋 Step-by-step guidance on how to design your own customized and balanced pollinator and wildlife oasis on your property.
🦋 Fun, live sessions that balance learning, guidance, and interacting with your fellow participants.
🦋 Opportunities to get to know others who want to design a pollinator and wildlife oasis that balances their family’s desires, their property’s unique characteristics, and the needs of the pollinators and wildlife that they want to attract.
What we ask in return
🦋 Come with an open mind. Your solutions and balancing points may be different than someone else’s, and that’s ok.
🦋 Be willing to participate in the activities, including engaging in the coaching forum, to the extent that you are able and feel comfortable doing so. The coaching forum will be the primary location where we share our designs and continue our conversations between the live sessions.
🦋 Share your knowledge and experiences with other members of the group. We all know something that someone else doesn’t – whether it is about gardening, how to operate the tech, or something else entirely. And we all benefit when everyone shares what we know.
After purchasing our home, I was eager to plant a wide array of flora. Yet, I lacked guidance on the planting process, selection, positioning, and timing. My experience in gardening was limited, barely spanning two years.
Participating in the coaching group was significantly beneficial. At the conclusion of the sessions, I found my knowledge enriched and my understanding of gardening significantly improved. The majority of my queries were comprehensively answered, and the community involvement substantially amplified my thirst for knowledge.
Even though I was the least experienced member of the group, I never felt alienated.
~ Adam P.
FAQs
🍄 How big is a garden? What if I want to plant / work on something bigger?
There’s no set definition for the size of a garden, but for the purposes of this program we’re loosely defining it as an area that you would measure in square feet. If you want to do something bigger – something better measured in acres – then we suggest waiting for our next coaching program.
Early next year, we plan to offer a similar coaching program focused specifically on those larger areas. That program will include techniques and considerations that are more applicable to larger areas, while the current program will focus on the techniques and considerations most appropriate for smaller areas.
🍄 Will I receive personal attention and feedback on my plan?
Yes! That’s why we limit the size of the coaching groups, because we recognize the importance and value of that personalized attention and want to make sure we can provide it. You’ll receive personalized attention and support in multiple different ways.
First, you can ask questions and get guidance during each coaching session. Between sessions, you’ll have access to our private coaching forum to continue discussions, ask additional questions, and share the pieces of your plan. We will be fully participating in the forum discussions, answering questions, and providing feedback on your plan as you share the various pieces. You’ll also receive a private 30-minute coaching call with just us at the end of the program to address any additional questions or concerns that you have.
In addition to the personalized feedback you receive, you’ll also gain all the benefits of being in a group setting. In the group settings, you’ll get to hear and learn from other participants’ questions, which may include questions that you hadn’t thought to ask yet. You’ll also be able to draw upon the shared group knowledge and experiences.
We understand that getting this sort of personalized attention and feedback is critical to your success, and having an outside opinion from someone who has already gone through the program can be helpful. Here’s what Allison and Donna each had to say about the level of support they received in an earlier version of this program.
🍄 Will the live sessions be recorded?
The main part of the live sessions will be recorded, but not any breakout rooms that we go into for smaller group discussions. The recordings will be available until November 30.
🍄 How much time will this take?
At a very minimum we suggest setting aside 7 hours to participate in the live sessions or watch the recordings. That will give you the basics of how to think through what you want to do on your property and ideas for how to tackle those goals.
However, like with most coaching programs, a large part of what you get out of this program depends on what you are willing to invest. If you want to get the most out of it, then you’ll need to invest additional time to think through what we discuss and work on the action items we give you.
We also know that engaging in the community and coaching forum discussions will deepen your experience and help you get even more out of the program. That’s why the group coaching program includes membership to the larger Backyard Ecology Community – to give you ongoing support, encouragement, and interaction.
How much additional time you invest beyond the 7 hours of coaching sessions will depend on what you want to get out of the program and will be different for everyone.
🍄 What if I’m not very tech savvy?
Don’t worry. You don’t have to be a technological genius to participate. We kept the tech as simple as possible because we’re not the most tech savvy people either. If you can navigate a website and jump on a Zoom call, then you have all the basic technological skills you’ll need.
I’m even hosting a special “Orientation Session” before the coaching program officially begins for those who want a little more help figuring out the platform. The “Orientation Session” is on Oct. 8 at 7:00 p.m. CT / 8:00 pm ET.
🍄 Can I pay for the coaching in installments?
Yes, each coaching plan has the option to pay in 3 equal installments over 3 months.
🍄 What if I’m just getting started and don’t know much about native plants or creating pollinator and wildlife habitat?
That’s ok, and you’re not alone. Everybody started out at the beginning at some point in their journey and none of us know everything. We’re all still learning, and we designed this program with that in mind.
We believe that curiosity, an open mind, and a willingness to learn are the perfect tools for success no matter what your experience level is.
🍄 What if I have another question?
Contact us and we’ll be happy to answer your question.
You don’t have to do it alone. Let us help you.
By joining our small group coaching program, you’ll gain expert guidance for designing a custom garden that aligns with your unique goals and aspirations, while becoming part of a supportive community that shares your passion for nature.
Registration is currently closed.
Please join the wait list to be notified when we offer this program again.
Backyard Ecology’s Guiding Principles:
🦋 Curiosity: Nature is fun, interesting, and worth exploring. We will never know everything. Answers lead to more questions. That’s half the fun.
🦋 Balanced: You don’t have to choose. You can support nature AND the lifestyle you desire.
🦋 Science informed: Habitat creation and management should be based on the latest scientific research available.
🦋 Stewardship: Anyone can make a positive difference in the natural world and leave an ecological legacy on their property.